Delaware State Police have arrested a 63-year-old Laurel man on vehicular homicide and related charges following an August crash that killed 54-year-old Norma Eckard of Delmar.
The crash occurred at approximately 5 p.m. on August 27, 2026, at Salt Barn Road and Old Stage Road in Laurel. Police said a Nissan Frontier was traveling westbound on Salt Barn Road approaching a stop sign while a Kia Sportage was traveling southbound on Old Stage Road approaching Salt Barn Road.
The preliminary investigation determined that the Nissan failed to stop at the stop sign and struck the driver’s side front of the Kia. Eckard, who was driving the Kia, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the Nissan, identified as 63-year-old James Elliott of Laurel, was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. The roadway was closed for approximately four hours while the crash scene was investigated and cleared.
During the investigation, troopers contacted Elliott at the hospital and observed signs of impairment. Troopers subsequently obtained and executed a search warrant for a sample of his blood.
On September 3, Elliott was charged with second-degree vehicular homicide involving driving under the influence and negligently causing death, driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, and failure to stop at a stop sign. He was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court and committed to the Delaware Department of Correction on a $21,500 cash bond.
The Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate the crash. Anyone who witnessed the collision or has related video is asked to contact Sergeant A. Mitchell at 302-703-3269.
